A SEARCH has been launched for family of a soldier killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

For years, Lieutenant Charles Stonehouse, from Blackburn, has been buried at Serre Road Cemetery No.3 in a grave marked as an unknown lieutenant.

But now, thanks to evidence from author Andrew Jackson, who penned Accrington’s Pals: The Full Story, the Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre has accepted the grave belongs to Lt Stonehouse.

A rededication service will be held at the cemetery in early July and the JCCC is hoping to trace members of Lt Stonehouse’s family so they can attend.

Ten officers who either belonged to the 11th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment or had been on attachment to the 11th were killed during either July or November 1916.

Of these, Lt Stonehouse was the only full lieutenant whose body had not been identified.

He was killed while leading forward a platoon of the Accrington Pals at Serre on July 1, 1916.

Born on May 15, 1882, in Blackburn, Lt Stonehouse was the son of Francis and Mary Ann Stonehouse.

An architect by profession, he enlisted with the 11th Battalion (Accrington Pals) on September 17, 1914, as a private.

Mr Jackson said: “Stonehouse was promoted to lance corporal before being appointed to a commission with the rank of second lieutenant on January 18, 1915.

“He was further promoted to full lieutenant on June 20, 1915.

“On July 1, 1916, Stonehouse led a platoon in the battalion’s attack on the village of Serre. According to an eyewitness statement, Stonehouse was near the enemy trench when he was hit in the wrist.

“His orderly, Private Rowland Banks, was killed while binding up his wound and Stonehouse himself was afterwards hit in the head and killed.”

Through research, Mr Jackson found no other grave in nearby cemeteries was marked as being that of a full lieutenant of the East Lancashire Regiment.

He added: “The only credible candidate for the grave of an unknown lieutenant of the East Lancashire Regiment in Serre Road Cemetery No. 3 is Lieutenant Charles Stonehouse, killed close to the enemy front line during the attack of the 11th Bn, East Lancashire Regiment on July 1, 1916.”